CCSD-1 and Sentinel Staff
On Saturday, August 17th, the CCHS fall sport teams traveled to Manitou Springs to climb the Manitou Incline. Cross Country, Football, and Volleyball athletes boarded a bus at 7:30 a.m. and began their ascent of the world-renowned hike at approximately 10 a.m.
The Manitou Incline has been hailed as the holy grail of cardio for locals, cross-fit enthusiasts, and even professional athletes. The once railroad track now consists of approximately 2,768 steps made entirely of railroad ties! It was built in 1907 as a railway cable and carried supplies to Pikes Peak to build a water system down the mountain. In a few years it became a tourist attraction instead, carrying visitors up the summit of Mount Manitou. The railway closed in 1990 and the train rails were removed. The ties were used to make the “staircase” for hikers to climb. Although it’s only .8 mile in length, the ascension averages a 41% Incline (68% at its highest) and a 2,000 foot climb in elevation (Empire State Building is 1,500 feet)! There is a “bail out” trail that leads to Barr Trail for those who cannot make it to the top.

NFL player Brandon Marshall, wide receiver, climbed the Incline in 2017 and called it “a BEAST”. The trail is rated extreme and the Incline is considered one of the highest sets of stairs in the world.
The sports team chose to do the challenging Incline as a team-building activity. Players and coaches climbed together and finished with a celebration at the top. “It was a test of physical and mental toughness,” commented head football coach Troy Bomgardner. “All players finished and we even had our new superintendent Mike McFalls and his wife join the teams for the climb! It was a great experience and hopefully will become a tradition for the Bobcats.”